Folding easel



March 31, 19 31. I H: v MARSH 798,267

FOLDING EAS EL Filed March 31,- 1950 Patented Mar. 31, 1931 ATENT QFFICE HARRY V. MARSH, GE CHICAGO, ILLINGIS FOLDING Essen Application filed March 31, 1930. Serial No. 440,243.

The present invention has to do with easels intended for use with poster sheets and gen orally having reenforced portions upon which the easel ends engage.

By easel, as used herein, any type of easel is meant, whether collapsible or folding or otherwise; and it is immaterial whether the material of such easel itself is articulated, or the easel is divided into connected and detachable sections, or whether the sections are movable relatively to one another to fold for convenience in packing.

The objects of the invention include an improved and novel easel; also, unique methods for connecting an easel to a reenforced or other poster sheet to stretch such sheet and to hold such sheet in a display position; and an unique arrangement of easeland display sheet.

These objects, and such other objects as may hereinafter appear, are obtained by the novel construction, unique arrangement, and improved combination of the several elements which are employed in the construction of an easel embodying the invention and in oining such easel to a poster sheet, several embodiments of the invention being illustrated in the appended drawing, hereby made a part of this specification, and in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary rear view of the ends of one form of poster having reenforced portions and which is suited for usewith eachof the easels hereinafter illustrated;

Figure 2 is a plan view of an easel adapted to be used with the poster sheet illustrated in Figure-1;

Figure 3 is a plan view of an easel similar to that illustrated in Figure 2, but having attachable supporting members instead of an integral wing;

Figure leis atransverse sectional view of the easel shown in Figure 3, in position and taken on the line 4 4 of Figure 3 to illustrate the locking means for the legs thereof;

Figure 5 is a similar view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a plan view of another type of easel in which the main support is not articulated longitudinally thereof, as in the oasels shown in Figures 2, 3, l and 5;

Figure 7 is an-elevation, partly in longitudinal section, of the easel illustrated in- Figure 6, the leg portions thereof being in position; and

Figure 8 is a view similar to that of Figure 7, but in which the easel at each end of the poster sheet has a detachable connecting means.

Like reference characters are used to designate similar parts in the drawing and in the description of the invention hereinafter given.

Reference should be had firstto Figure 1. This figure is illustrative of a poster sheet, the commercial use of which has gained considerable prominence in the last few years, in view of the cheapness with which it may be manufactured and the large amount of display space for unit of cost. Said sheet comprises a body 10 of thin material having at each end reenforced portions 11, which renforced portions are normally adhesively secured to body 10 across the ends of said sheet to provide necessary reenforcement therefor whereby the sheet 10 may be stretched into a flat surface under the influence of a suitable easel engaging the members 11, said easel being adapted to hold said members 11 in a predetermined spaced relation. 7 i

In all of the forms of the easels hereinafter illustrated, except that in Figure 8, the easel is movably but permanently secured to the lower men'iber 11 (or to the upper member ll when preferred) by rivet 12 or by some other suitable connecting member, the member ll at the opposite end of the sheet 10 having protruding therefrom a long sl anked rivet 13, a portion of the shank 1% thereof being adapted to extend away from the member ii and terminate in an enlarged head 15 so that the complemental end of an easel, provided with a key hole opening 16, or other suitable aperture, may be moved over the rivet head 13 to engage the elongated shank 14,, at the material of the easel about its narrow section of the slot, whereby the upper reenforced Y strip 11 is held in predetermined spaced relation from the lower strip 11. Thus, the sheet 10 intermediate the members 11 is extended or stretched by the easel attached thereto, and said easel additionally may be made to support the sheet 10 in a substantially upright position for advertising display.

In Figure 7, a rivet member, like 13, having an elongated shank l l supplied with a head 15, is used upon both of members 11, as will hereinafter be pointed out.

Reference will now be had to Figure 2 which is illustrative of a form of easel which may be readily produced by die cutting from a sheet of stiff cardboard and which sheet is articulated transversely and longitudinal- ]y to provide collapsihility and rigidity.

The easel illustrated in Figure 2 is designated generally 20 and comprises a sheet of cardhmn-d or other suitable material. This sheet is articulated intermediate its length along the score line ill for convenience in folding as a preliminary to packing and shipping.

Longitudinally, said easel 20 is articulated along the score line 22 extending from the intersection 23 of the bottom edges 23 thereof, one section 24 being normal to the score 22, and another part 25 being obliquely disposed therefrom to provide a bearing edge to support the easel and stretched sheet and giving to the stretched sheet 10 a slight backword tilt from bottom to top. Said score 22 extends from the intersection 23 upwardly to the lower end of a slit 2G. Said slit "26 is oblique to the score 22 and terminates in a second slit 27 normal to score 22 in direction, the end of the slit 27 intersecting a curved slit 28 which extends in a generally curved direction until it terminates in slit 29 semicircular in form. Slit 29 terminates in a sharp angula r intersection with the end of another semi-circular or curved slit 30, the latter having joined thereto a vertical slit 31 which terminates in the same transverse plane as the slit 27. The slits 28, 29, 30 and 31, together with the slit 27, provide marginal definitions for a foldable tab which is adapted to be articulated on a score line 33 which is parallel to and an extension of the slit 27, so that the tab 32 may be folded from a vertical to a horizontal plane with the material bounded by the curved slits 29 and b0 adapted to engage at opposite sides the edge of the material of the wing of the easel when normal to the body thereof, the engagement being at the intersection of slits 27 and 28.

Intermediate the lower end of the slit 26 and the score line 33, the material of the easel 20 is not articulated, the articulation 22 terminating at the beginning of said slit 26. Above the tab 32, the material of the easel 20 is articulated as indicated by the score line 34, the articulation 3 being in the same direction and in alignment with the armoses? ticulation 22. The articulation 34 extends from the intersection of the slits 29 and 30 to the top of the device, so that when in extended or elongated position the material of easel 20 may be folded on the score lines 22 and 84, leaving the tab and the extension of material 35 intermediate the score line 33 and the end of slit 26 projecting in the same direction as the section 36 of the easel 20, the tab 32 subsequently to be folded downwardly to rest upon the shoulder of material formed by the slit 27. hen so resting the material of the tab between slits 29 and 30 frietionally engages the short leg of slit 28 to be locked by such frictional engagement against displacement. Thus. the wing 37 of the easel 20, when articulated along the lines 22 and 34, may be held normal to the part 36 by the tab 32, the periphery of which is shaped to provide for its locking engagement at the intersection of the slits 27 and 28 by the material of wing 37 adjacent to slit 28 and the flat upper face of the material of wing 37 cut therein by the slit 27.

One end of easel 20, generally the lower end, is held in rotatable, but permanent attachment with the sheet 10 at member 11 by a fastening member or rivet 12, while the other end of easel 20 is provided with a keyhole opening 38, heretofore mentioned, such opening having two sections, an enlarged section 39 of greater diameter than rivet head 13, and a smaller slot section 40 of less width than head 13 but of greater width than the diameter of the shank of the rivet 14:.

In assembly of easel with poster sheet, it is usual to slightly bend the material of the easel 20, by outward bowing, so that the head 13 of the rivet 13 is projected through the circular opening 39, and thereafter the shank 14 of the rivet may be made to ride in the opening 40. This assembly is generally made before the parts 36 and 37 of the easel 20 are articulated as bowing of the easel may then be more readily accomplished.

The easel is articulated by turning the part 37 to a position normal. to the part 36, the locking of the easel in that position being attained by articulation of the tab so that section provides a stretcher intermediate the members 11 to elongate and hold the sheet 10 flat, the bottom edge 25 of the part 37 providing a support for the easel and sheet 10 with said sheet extending upwardly in a direction to depend partly over the easel 37.

By permanently attaching the easel 20 to the lower strip 11 so that it is rotatable relatively thereto, the sheet 10 may be folded in any desired number of articulations irrespective of the material of the easel 20, when the easel is detached at the top and folded on the score line 21. the easel 20 forming a flat oackage at the side of the folded sheet 10 means? i when the device is in a collapsed position.

V A second form of the invention is shown in. Figures 3, 4, and 5, to which reference should now be had. In this form of the invention, all of the parts are the same as in l igure 2, save that the V-shaped wing 36 is replaced by a, narrow member fron'l which a supporting leg depends. 7

Parts in Figures 3, 4 and 5 corresponding to parts shown in Figure 2 are indicated by the same numerals except that a 100 is placed before each of such ordinals.

Upon the narrow wing 137 there is disposed, in place of a body having a supporting edge 23, a leg 150 pivotally connected to the flange 137 at its top end by a rivet 151, or the like. Secured to said leg 150 by a, pivotal connecting member 152 is a link 153 which has a long shanked rivet 154 projecting there trom into a slot 155 in flange 137. Said slot 155 elongated and at its top has a lateral and depending short section 156 whereby to lock the link 153 in position at the head 150 of said slot when the leg 150 is extended outwardly.

The interlock between link 153 and strip 137 by rivet 154C prevents the leg 150 from collapsing,'t he short end 156 of the slot 155, providing means for holding the leg 150 in an extended position against all normal strain. The advantage of this type of easel is that, when in collapsed condition, the free end of the link 1553 may be arranged parallel with the flange 137, and the leg 150 dis nosed thereover in parallelism with flange 137 and link 1553 with the result that, when the easel is collapsed. a very narrow and compartly folded device is produced.

The paper sheet 10 may be rolled around he collapsed easel, and a compact folded package is thus obtained. One end of the ease]. is generally secured. to a strip 11. as in the previously described form of easel, the other end being detaehably secured. byrivet and key hole slot, as described in relation to Figure 2.

In Figures 6 and 7, a third form of easel is illustrated. Said easel comprises two rela tively narrow strips 201 and 202, one supermposed upon the other and being connected therewith by the use of two long shanked double ended rivets 203 and 20 1 which are secured in the rearmost member 202 and which are adapted to slide in'two slots 205 ind 200 provided ther for in the front member 201. Relative longitudinal movement between the front and the back members 201 and 202 is for the purpose of permitting a folding of the members 201 and 202 and at "be same time supplying means for rendering said members rigid when in elongated position.

The front member 201 is secured at its lowermost end by a rivet 207 to lower memher 11, and at its uppermost end it has a key 7 hinged at two hole slot 203 adapted to receive the rivet head 200 anchored in the uppermost member 11 just scribed. her 201.

rearmost member 202, the middle portion of which carries rivets 203 and 204 and is designated 202a, is transversely articulated or 7 places, the uppermost hinge 210 being above the uppermost rivet 203, the upper portion 211 of the second member being adapted to be folded backwardly to provide a leg support for the ease].

The lowermost section 212 of the rear member is hinged near its bottom at 213 and adjacent to the rivet 201, such hinging being to provide a link having a dovetail end 214i which is adapted to be inserted through a dovetail slot 215 in the uppermost section 211 when the latter is folded backwardly to provide an easel leg. The hinges 210 and 213 may be formed by scoring member 202, or by scoring member 202 and attaching stout reinforcing strips 220 at the point of articulation as shown. The tongue 21 i upon the linx 212 comprises a narrow portion and a larger section, so that in plan View it has the shape of a T Said tongue 21 1 is adapted to be inserted through the wide and shallow section of the T-shaped slot 215, after which the narrow portion of the tongue 214 is adapted to be pressed into the narrow portion of the slot 215 to provide a locking engagement between the two hinged sections 211 and 212 depending from the rearmost member 202 to provide a rigid support for the easel and the sheet and reent'orced members depending therefrom.

hen it is desired to disassemble the device, the tongue 2l l-is disconnected from the slot 215 and uppermost portion 211, and the two hinged sections are laid flat upon thefront section 201, after which the rear member, as a unit, is pushed longitudinally of the front member as far as it is possible to move it by reason of the rivets therein coacting with the material about the slots 205 and 206 in the trout member 201. Such movement uncovers the transverse articulation 216 in the front member 201, and, in such position, it is a simple expedient to fold the upper hinged section 211 over the secured section of member 201 and at the same time to fold the upper section of the front member 201 along the transverse scoring or hinge 216 thereof. A reinforcing strip 220 may be employed to bridge the score line 216 arranged transversely of the easel member 201. For assembly, the movement of part 202 relative to part 201 is reversed, the movement of the secured section of the rear member 202 upwardly along the uppermost member providing stiflening means for the front member 201 so that it cannot collapse or be articulated, thus forcing it to provide a satisfactory means for maintaining the two members 11 in spaced apart position and to keep sheet 10 in a flat plane. Transverse score 216 in member 201 is across the slot 205 to facilitate ready folding and equally eliicient stiflening effects.

The folded easel is adapted to be rolled up while lying parallel to the lowermost member 11, the sheet 10 being rolled closely thereabout to provide a compact package for shipping in a carton of goods or by itself.

A fourth form of easel is shown in Figure 8. This device is provided with a central or main section 301 which is not adapted to be folded or articulated and which has at each end key hole slots 302, such as have heretofore been described. This easel is adapted to be used with a sheet 10 having two reenforced members 11 each of which is provided with a rivet M having an exposed section of shank terminating in a head 13, the head 13 being adapted to be inserted through the larger end of the slot 302. Thereafter the shank 1a is allowed to drop into the narrow portion of the slot 302 to provide means for stretching the sheet 10 intermec iate the reenforced members 11.

Firmly secured to the strip 301 is a second strip 303 of substantially the same type of material having a central portion a-flixed to the strip member 301 by permanent fastening means 304. At the upper end of said back strip 303 and hinged thereto in any suitable manner is an extension 305 adapted to be folded backwardly to provide a supporting leg for the easel. This member has a T-shaped slot 306.

From the other end of said central portion 303 is a short link 307 hingedly connected thereto, the free end of said member comprising a T-shaped tongue 308.

Normally the two extensions are arranged parallel to the integral strip 301 for the purpose of compact packaging.

hen it is desired to assemble the device, the member 301 is secured to two members 11 by bowing it outwardly while attaching the strip 301 to the members 11 by forcing the rivets 14 through the key hole slots 302. Thereafter, the upper member 305 is folded backwardly and the link 307 folded horizontally, the two members being secured one to another by forcing the tongue 308 through the wide part of the key slot 306 until the narrow portion of material of the tongue 308 registers with the narrow portion of the slot 306, and thereafter forcing the link 307 downwardly so that there is an interlock between the link 307 and the upper member 305 in its folded back position. The device is now ready to he stood up.

For disassembly, the short section 307 and the long section 305 are disjoined by lifting the tongue 308 upwardly until it is parallel with the wide portion of the key slot 300 after which the upper member 305 may be withdrawn from contact with the shorter member 307 and the two laid lengthwise along the stretching strip 301.

lVhen this form of device is packed, it is usual to lay the two flat strips 301 and 303 in extended position upon one of the members l1 and roll the sheet 10 and the other strip 11 thereabout, holding the two in folded dissembled relation by placing a rubber band around the strip 11 and sheet 10 forming the outside of the package.

Many other forms of devices or easels embodying the subject matter of the present invention could be illustrated, but it is believed that the foregoing are suliicient to illustrate the prime features of such invention. The scope of the invention is to be in accord with the terminology of the claims hereto appended.

()ne of such other forms of devices or easels contemplates that the stretcher member comprise two sections joined together, say, for example, with a rivet, while the supporting member comprises sections one of which is permanently affixed to one of the portions of the stretcher member, the other sections of said. supporting member being foldable to i11- tersect or become attached to provide an obliquely disposed leg. I

I claim:

1. A display device having as a part thereof a sheet of material held in upright position, in combination with an easel having fastening members at its ends for attaching it to the top and the bottom of said sheet, said easel comprising a strip of stiff material ar ticulated for compact packing, and a second strip secured to and movable longitudinally of the first mentioned strip to prevent the collapse of said first mentioned strip.

2. A display device having as a part thereof a sheet of material held in upright position, in combination with an easel having fastening members at its ends for attaching it to the top and the bottom of said sheet, said asel comprising a strip of stiff material articulated for compact folding, and a second strip secured to and movable longitudinally of said first mentioned strip to prevent the collapse thereof, said second strip also being foldable for compact packing.

3. A display device having as a part thereof a sheet of material held in upright position. in combination with an easel having fastening members at its ends for attaching it to the top and the bottom of said sheet, said easel comprising a strip of stiff material articulated for l&

compact packing, and a second strip secured to and movable longitudinally of the first mentioned strip to prevent the collapse there of, said second strip being foldable to provide a supporting leg for the first mentioned strip.

4. A display device having as apart thereof a sheet of material held in upright position, in combination with an easel having fa tening members at its ends for attaching it to the top and bottom of said sheet, said easel comprising a strip of stiff material articulated for compact packing, and a second strip secured to and movable longitudinally of the first mentioned strip to prevent the collapse thereof, said second strip having sections foldable upon themselves to provide intersecting locking means therehetween, one of which sections forming a leg for supporting said first mentoned strip.

5. A. display device having as a part thereof sheet of material held in upright position, in combination with an easel having fastening members at its ends for attaching it to the top and bottom of said sheet, said easel comprising a strip of still material articulated for compact packing, and a second strip secured to and movable longitudinally of the first mentioned strip to prevent the collapse thereof, said second strip having sections adapted to intersect, one of the intersecting sections providing a supporting leg for the first mentioned strip, and the other intersecting section securing said leg section against accidentaldisplacement. I

e. A display device having as a part thereof a sheet of material held in upright position, in combination with an easel having fastening members at its ends for attaching it to the top and the bottom of said sheet, said easel comprising a strip of stiff material articulated for compact packing, and a second strip secured to and movable longitudinally of the first mentioned strip to prevent the collapse thereof, said second strip having articulations to provide sections foldable one upon another, one of said sections having an aperture therein, and another section having an extension insertable through said aperture to lock the first mentioned section at an acute angle to,

said first mentioned strip.

7. The combination with a poster sheet of an easel comprising two strip members having fastening means therebetween admitting of relative longitudinal movement of said strips, the parts of said strips having fastenin g means therein being in constant parallelism, said strips being foldablefor compact packaging when in one longitudinal position, a change in the longitudinal position of said strips causing one strip to be reinforced against articulation by the other strlp.

8. The combination with a poster sheet of an easel comprising two strip members having fastening means therebetween admitting of relative longitudinal movement of said strips, the parts of said strips having fastening means therein being in constant parallelism, said strips being foldable for compact packaging when in one longitudinal position, one of said strips having means for attaching it to said poster sheet to spread said sheet, the other of said strips being movable along said poster spreading strip to provide a reinforcement therein against collapse.

9. An easel for a poster sheet and the like comprising an elongated strip member adapted to be attached to the top and the bottom of a poster sheet to spread such sheet, and a second strip member to provide a supporting leg for said first mentioned strip member, each of said members being foldable for compact packaging, there being an adjustableconnection between said members whereby an unarticulated section of the leg forming member may be moved across an articulated section of the sheet spreading member to prevent the collapse of said spreading strip at such articulation.

10. An easel comprising an elongated member adapted to be articulated intermeiate its length for compact packaging, said member being adapted to be attached to an object for display, a second elongated memher also adapted to be articulated intermediate its length for compact packaging, said second member having interlocking sections forming a support for the first mentioned member, and fastening means intermediate said members admitting of relative longitudinal movement therebetween and providing stops limiting such longitudinal movement, movement of said members to one position causing said second member to reinforce the first mentioned member against collapse.

, 11. An easel comprising a pair of strips, each of which is foldable, and connecting means therebetween, permitting of relative longitudinal movement therebetween, the connecting means being anchored in one strip and the other strip being movable relative thereto, whereby to permit of the employment of said first strip to prevent articulation of the second strip.

12. In an easel, two strips, one of said strips being foldable and having a slot extending transversely of the articulation thereof, and the second of said strips also being foldable and having a fastening means upon an unarticulated section and extending through said slot, said strips being adapted to be moved relatively to cause one to reenforce the other against collapse.

13. In an easel, two strips, one of said strips being foldable and having a slot extending transversely of the articulation thereof, and the second of said strips also being foldable and having a fastening means upon an unarticulated section and extending through said slot, said strips being adapted to be moved relatively to cause one to reenforce the other against collapse, and in which said second strip has interlocking portions adapting it to provide a support for the other strip when the latter is in upright position.

M. An easel comprising two strips, each of which is foldable upon articulations therein, and fastening means therebe-tween admitting relative longitudinal movement therebetween, comprising means upon one engaging the material of the other at opposite sides of an articulation therein whereby relative movement therebetween causes one to reenforce the other against collapse.

An easel comprising two strip members having connecting means whereby portions thereof are maintained in parallel sliding relation at all times, one of which members has fastening means at its ends for attaching it to a sheet or the like for spreading such sheet and is foldable, and the other of which is also foldable to provide a support for maintaining the first mentioned strip in substantially upright position.

HARRY V. lilARSH. 

